Being a new member to this board I did a search but did not find the answer that I was seeking. I also have not had much luck searching on the internet. From the way it looks, does this system allow you to keep the forward tension on the mast and allow you to rasie and lower the jib separately? Does this system allow you to sail the 16 without the jib raised?

When you run the standard halyard wire down the side of the mast and do purchase at the mast base, the wire carries 100% of the forestay load. This compresses the mast and causes a pre-bend. Much worse as the tension increases and can cause the mast to be difficult to tack and possibly counter-rotate.

With the purchase at the top... the line running down the mast is just 1/4 of the load. The mast is more straight and not loaded. It rotates and tacks freely.

Is that really a "big" advantage if your mast otherwise rotates freely with the stock system? If one has no problem tacking is there another payoff? Just seems like anything that makes the H14-16 tack easier Hobie would have made it stock long ago.

Is that really a "big" advantage if your mast otherwise rotates freely with the stock system? If one has no problem tacking is there another payoff? Just seems like anything that makes the H14-16 tack easier Hobie would have made it stock long ago.

The Aussie halyards became class legal about 1983. They've been stock on the boats since maybe early '90s? My '89 had a stock one, but it was a Nationals boat that had upgrades. My '98 boat had one stock as does my '07. The halyards used to be much more expensive before the advent of Dyneema / Spectra.

You can also route the aussie halyard (less load on it) back away from the jib more easily. I use a small hook on the side of the mast. That brings the halyard down back by the main sail luff. That way the jib battens are less likely to catch on it.

Hey... if you have a standard jib halyard and are happy with it. What the heck?

Hey... if you have a standard jib halyard and are happy with it. What the heck?

I like Matt Miller's response on this one. However, I learned to sail in Southern Cal (Long Beach) where the conditions are a bit stern (high winds/rough waters). The Ausie did enable me to tack much easier to starboard. Don't know what kind of conditions you sail in but I think it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Note: there had to be a reason that Hobie made the upgrade standard equipment on the H16.

I know you don't want to spend the money and you're trying to justify this expenditure but this is sailing. You're going to spend money. I made a couple of acquisitions for my boat that I thought I was going to have to seek therapy to get over it. In the end, I was glad that I made them. Take the advice of some of the more seasoned sailors on this forum like the Matt's (Bounds and Miller). They will save you a ton of money, in mistakes. Don't ask me how I know !!! But it's like M. Miller said, "if you have a standard jib halyard and are happy with it, what the heck ???"